Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-04-01

tner poSsessiOu, the tracA ueshos Su io
many miles, and hundreds Of its cars
and locomotives ruined. From the Is
of October, 1861, to March 30. 1862, the
road was in operation only at its ex'
tremities, 100 miles of 1t. between Har'
per's Ferry and Cumberland, having
been almost completely destroyed by
Stonewall Jackson in his first raid. Dur
ing the year 1862 the road was in the
company's possession only four months
Yet as fast as 1t was destroyed the work
of rebuilding was undertaken with en-
ergy aud rapidity. Some of the bridges
on the road were destroyed and rebuilt
three times. Mr.. Garrett, born In 1880,
in Baltimore, had been engaged In the
banking business, and IL was not until
he became president Of the railroad IN
1858 that he had taken an active inter.
est i'm the road. Ii had never been prof
liable 10 the stockholders, and IL had
been more or less political foot ball'
owing to the interest in It possessed by
the city of Baltimore and the State OF
MARYLAND. From this latter condition,
after much patient working with the
Legislature, he succeeded in extrioating
it. and then by introducing the most
rigid economy and strictest business
regulations In all its departments, he
saw it reach paying basis At about the
time of the outbreak Of the war. Dur
ing those troublous times IL could not
pay, but when the war was over II again
began to be prosperous. A large stock
holder, possessed of large private for
tune, the mere matter Of salary was not
very important to him, and he never
would accept an increase over the sum
Of 81, 900, which had been the presideu
tial salary Of the road from almost its
earliest days. Whether he did this for
the purpose of being bright and shin
ing example TO his employees, and keep
ing other salaries down, or because he
thought it good pay for what he did,
may be matter of opinion. He did keep
the salaries aud pay OF all bis employees
dow at a reasonably low rate. In July
1877, reduction of 10 per cent. was
made by the company on all salaries, nc
distinction being made. All appeared
to accept the cut except the iremen and
the men who ran the freight trains
These men refused TO accept the reduc'
ton and stopped work. As soon as this
became known hundreds Of applications
were made to the company by men out
of employ, and the places Of the strikers
were easily filed. This did not at all
suit the strikers, so they sought to force
the company 10 yield to their demands
by seizing parts Of the road and stop.
ping the freight trains. This was the
beginning of the great strike Of 1877.
which rapidly spread to all the great
roads of the country and led TO the de-
struction OF an enormous amount OF
property and the loss OF many lives.
Railroad travel and transportation was
paralyzed from New York to San Fran
cisco for nearly month, and il was only
by the intervention Of the military
power of the Federal Government that
the strikes were finally brought to SUBJ
mission. Though the detachmerts OF
United States troops sent to the various
points OF danger were hated they were
everywhere respected and feared by the
rioters. Their discipline and steadiness
made il certain that they would obey
orders literally and promptly; whenever
the regular appeared the rioters skunk
away; not hand was raised against
them, and their service was confined en-.
tirely to guard duty.
II was the first time In the history OF
the country that General Government
had been called on TO quell disturbances
In the States. This great but delicate
duty was performed by President Haye:
and by the officers generally with dis.
cretion. Since that time the affairs oI
this great railroad have moved along In
prosperity and without remarkable sen.
saions, until now, when The news oi
its transfer 10 New York syndicate
seems to have startled the world. John
w. Garrett died 10 September 1854, and
the presidency of the road devolved
upon his son, Robert Garrett. 1t may
be many weeks yet before the country
will fully know the exact truth con
cerning this supposed deal. And 1t Is
possible that the city Of Baltimore and
the State Of Maryland, which were a
one dine very potential in the affairs o.
the company, may still have decidec
voice in any transfer Of Ownership
Chicago Herald.